PEOPLE in Winsford are being urged to descend on the town's civic hall tonight (Wednesday) - to help save it from closure.

Borough councillor and former mayor Don Beckett issued the call to arms ahead of this even-ing's Winsford Area Meeting, which is being held at the building. He wants residents to use it as a chance to block controversial plans to sell off the hall and replace it with a leisure complex.

He said: 'We want as many people as possible to come along and speak up about this, because it's a marvellous civic hall with fine facilities. I'm willing to fight this all the way.'

Vale Royal Borough Council proposes an £8m all-in-one leisure complex at The Drumber, which would replace the civic hall, the Dingle Centre and Winsford Sports Complex.

Blueprints for the new centre have been drawn up, but Cllr Beckett says it's not too late to save the civic hall.

He said: 'The people don't want change. The only thing that has been decided is to get firms to look into drawing up plans, and I've been promised a public consultation before anything happens.'

The council says the new facility would be more efficient to run. Despite assurances, there are still fears that certain groups could be left out in the cold in a new complex.

Cllr Beckett said: 'The new leisure complex being discussed is all about swimming and sport. Drama groups who use the civic hall are up in arms because they think they'll be left out.

'Older people will be forgotten - the Dingle Centre operates for people over 50 and you can pop in and have a cup of tea at any time of the day.

'The council says that will all be included in the new property, but I doubt that very much.' nThe meeting starts at 7pm.